Cover Picture: ZAAC ‐ Journal of Inorganic and General Chemistry 14‐15/2011

The cover picture shows the single crystal structure of 2,2,2‐trinitroethyl orthocarbonate (TNEOC), a possible high energy oxidizer with an oxygen balance of Ω CO = 32.8 %, which is close to the one of ammonium perchlorate (Ω CO = 34.0 %,). The compound shows a phase transition at –16 °C with a hysteresis at 33 °C. Compounds containing the trinitromethyl moiety sometimes show interesting behavior concerning their crystal structures. In memory of the end of the NASA Space Shuttle Program with the save and final return of the Space Shuttle atlantis and it?s crew from their last mission STS 135 on July 21 st 2011. The background shows the launch of a Space Shuttle at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. The picture was taken from the official NASA homepage with courtesy of the NASA. More details to TNEOC and related compounds are discussed in the article by Thomas M. Klaptke et. al. on pp. 2103ff.